The Affordably Fun Art Fair Arrives in Bushwick

Youth Waste
Youth Waste

I love the notion of an affordable art fair that features works by artists whose visions also surface on our streets. The Affordably Fun Art Fair, opening tonight, Friday,  6-10pm at 330 Ellery Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn does just that — presenting over 40 such artists who are selling their works for $150 or less. While visiting, I was struck by the incredible range of works for sale — from the starkly elegant to the boldly comical. Here’s a small sampling:

Buildmore
Buildmore
Tony Depew
Tony Depew
Crasty
Crasty
Cern
Cern
Cake
Cake
Billy Mode, close-up
Billy Mode, close-up

Conceived and coordinated by Rhiannon Platt, the fair continues from 1-6pm tomorrow, Saturday.

Photos by Lois Stavsky

Chris Stain and Billy Mode: Exploring histories at the Bushwick Collective – Part 2

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Note: This article is the second in a three part series that discusses how three artists dealt with the topic of histories within their Bushwick Collective murals. Check out part 1 here.

Long time collaborators and friends Chris Stain and Billy Mode bring a personal history to each mural they create. Through the years, this partnership has lead to a fast, seamless work ethic. From watching the creation of their wall for Open Walls Baltimore in 24 hours to their latest creation at the Bushwick Collective, which took about a week despite weather conditions, the duo always work in a manner that is astounding in imagery and efficiency. When the two artists find time to break from their schedules of school, family, or skateboarding to take on a new project, it is known that it will be nothing less than awe inspiring. On a series of ladders and forklifts, Chris and Billy become like a structured ballet as they weave around each other, never interrupting the other’s flow except to make the odd joke.

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While the artists have great personal history, their imagery deals with their hopes for the future. Billy Mode’s text speaks to this message, telling the youth of the neighborhood that the future is theirs to invent. In addition to the this literal embodiment is a figuritive explanation as two children embrace, sharing their love for each other and the future. These girls represent those who will shape the world’s future, the youth of today. Through a combination of metaphors, Billy Mode and Chris Stain hope to give hope to adolescents, whose creations could one day be seen on the walls of Bushwick.

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Photos by Rhiannon Platt

New walls from Chris Stain and Billy Mode

Chris Stain and Billy Mode

Chris Stain sent over these images of two new walls that he painted recently in upstate New York. When he’s at the top of his game (as he definitely is in the above wall which is a collaboration with Billy Mode), Chris is one of my all-time favorite stencil artists.

Chris Stain

Photos by Chris Stain